Hinge device



SePf- 14, 1965 H. s. VAN BUREN, JR 3,205,530

HINGE DEVICE Filed Aug. 30, 1962 IAZ/ nio?" Inve vawBurenJz.;

Harold 21H ff-d United States Patent O 3,265,530 HINGE DEVICE Harold S.van Buren, Jr., Cambridge, Mass., assignor to United-Carr Incorporated,a corporation of Delaware Filed Aug. 30, 1962, Ser. No. 220,363 4Claims. (Cl. 16-15(l) This invention relates to a new and improved hingeconstruction.

An object of the invention is to provide a simple, inexpensive hingedevice of new construction whereby two relatively movable portions areconnected by an integral flexible connecting member.

Another object of the invention is to provide a onepiece hingeconstruction of flexible synthetic molding material.

Another object of the invention is to provide a onepiece 'hingeconstruction including two socket-like portions connected by a flexiblemember to permit relative movement of the socket-like portions.

A further object of the invention is to provide a simple hingeconstruction of injection molded plastic material for use in connectionwith so-called brief case, bag, or purse frames.

In the drawings which illustrate one particular form of the invention:

FIG. l is, more or less, a sketchy perspective broken away view of abrief case with which the improved hinge construction may be used;

FIG. 2 is an end view of a portion of the brief case shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an edge View of the construction shown in FIG. 2 as viewedfrom the right hand side thereof;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 2 with the parts hinged partly open;

FIG. 5 is a front view of the hinge as originally molded before beingplaced in use;

FIG. 6 is an edge view of the hinge shown in FIG. 5, as viewed from theright hand side thereof, partly in section; and

FIG. 7 is a top plan view of the hinge shown in FIG. 5.

Heretofore, hinges have been manufactured as separate pieces that had tobe assembled by the use of rivets, hinge pins, etc. Those constructionshave been expensive, had a tendency to loosen and posed problems fortheir uses by manufacturers.

The hinge of the present invention is simple, easy to use andlabor-saving both in its manufacture and by the manufacturer ofhandbags, purses, brief cases, etc.

Referring now to the specic embodiments of the invention illustrated bythe drawings there is shown a hinge particularly useful in a brief caseconstruction. This particular hinge, as shown in FIGS. 5, 6, and 7, isformed as an injection molded part in a manner that will be understoodby anyone skilled in the molding art.

It will be noted that the illustrated hinge is formed as a singleunitary one piece molded construction of any suitable material that isstrong, flexible, and will have a long life when subjected to frequentoperation. The hinge shown has two socket portions 1 and 2 each having apocket 3 and open at one end only. The socket portions 1 and 2 areconnected by a narrow connecting member 4 which is flexible for thepurposes hereinafter described. The arrangement of the socket portions 1and 2 relative to each other may vary depending upon the use of thehinge but when used with a brief case they are preferably in upsetplanes so that they may pass each other in face to face relation. Thisarrangement is easily taken care of by the connecting member l (FIG. 6)during the molding operation.

As an illustration of a use of the hinge of the invention there isshown, in FIG. 1, an upper corner portion only of a brief case. Thebrief case has the usual bag portion 5 with a top opening that may beclosed by the usual two co-operating frame members 6--6 enclosed withincovering material 7 and having their ends exposed in adjacent relationat the ends of the bag (only one end being shown), as will be understoodby anyone skilled in the bag or brief case manufacturing art.

An e-nd of one frame member 6 is fitted into the socket portion 1 and anend of the other frame member 6 is fitted into the socket member 2 (FIG.4). The sockets 1 and 2 may be secured to the frame ends by cement asthe easiest and least expensive method. l

To assemble the sockets 1 and 2 to the ends of the frames 6-6 the socketwould have to have been twisted from the arrangement shown in FIG. 5 andplaced on the ends of the frame members 6 6. This operation usuallytakes place after the bags are completed and the material 7 covers theframes leaving edges 8 against which the sockets 1 and 2 are abutted tofinish the bag and com.- plete the covering of the frame ends.

The flexible connecting member 4 assumes a twisted shape (FIGS. l, 2, 3,and 4) and holds the ends of the frames 6--6 and the sockets 1 and 2 inthe desired positions relative to the brief case bag member 5.

It will be understood that the color of the plastic material of thehinge may be such as to match the color of the bag material 5 or toharmonize therewith as desired.

The hinge of the invention is neat, simple, holds the bag frame ends inproper relationship; and the connecting member 4 is strong, flexible,and maintains proper relationship of the parts in open or closedposition of the brief case.

The offset relation of the socket members 1 and 2 permits the bag framemembers 6--6 to nest with each other in the usual manner and, while theoffset arrangement of the sockets 1 and 2 is provided for in the moldingof the hinge, the sockets could be molded in a non-Offset arrangementand formed into offset arrangement during assembly of the frame members6 6 if desired. In some bag constructions the offset arrangement may notbe desired.

While the drawings and description have concentrated on disclosing ahinge for a brief case it will be understood, by anyone skilled in theart, that the hinge of the invention will have other uses and thesockets, connecting member and arrangement may be varied withoutdeparting from the invention which is best defined by the followingclaims.

I claim:

1. A frame engaging hinge device yfor use in the construction of abriefcase, bag, purse and the like frame, said hinge device beingconstructed of la single piece of molded synthetic plastic materialhaving two relatively movable, laterally offset socket portions eachhaving a frame receiving open-end pocket, and a readily twistable,flexible connecting member, securing the socket portions together, topermit movement of one socket portion relative to the other whileholding the socket portions in proper offset relationship.

2. A hinge device according to claim 1 wherein the socket portions arearranged with the open ends of the pockets each facing away fromopposite ends of the socket portions to which the connecting member issecured.

3. A frame engaging hinge device according to claim 1 wherein the socketportions are arranged with the open ends of the pockets each facing awayfrom opposite ends of the socket portions to which the connecting memberis secured and the oilset socket portions are arranged to pass eachother in close proximity when the hinge device is in operating positionupon a frame.

4. A frame engaging hinge device according to claim 1 wherein theconnecting vmember securing the socket portions together is of vlesswidth than said socket portions References Cited bythe Examiner vUNITEDSTATES PATENTS 2,240,729 5 41 Von Palmenberg 16--149 2,346,556 4/ 44Colegrave 15 0-29 2,350,243 5 44 MacKy 1 6-149 X 2,687,157 8/54 Cowan.

2,690,861 10/54 Tupper.

9/57 Lifton 150-29 4/58 Sweem 16-150 9/ 5 8 Motley.

1 1/ 6 1 Bodner. 2/ 62 Stinson.

FOREIGN PATENTS 8/56 France.

DONLEY I. STOCKING, Primary Examiner.

M. VHENSON WOOD, JR., Examiner.

1. A FRAME ENGAGING HINGE DEVICE FOR USE IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF ABRIEFCASE, BAG, PURSE, AND THE LIKE FRAME, MOLDED, SYNTHETIC PLASTICMATERIAL HAVING TWO RELATIVELY MOVABLE, LATERALLY OFFSET SOCKET PORTIONSEACH HAVING A MOVABLE, LATERALLY OFFSET SOCKET PORTIONS EACH HAVING AFRAME RECEIVING OPEN-END POCKET, AND A READILY TWISTABLE, FLEXIBLECONNECTING MEMBER, SECURING THE SOCKET PORTIONS TOGETHER, TO PERMITMOVEMENT OF ONE SOCKET PORTION RELATIVE TO THE OTHER WHILE HOLDING THESOCKET PORTIONS IN PROPER OFFSET RELATIONSHIP.